So, let’s talk about January gym membership sales. Too early? No, not really. The January bump in sales is too often just a hangover remedy from a slow fall sign-up season. True, January is the month to become fit. After all, 12% of all new members join at year’s start. That’s easily 40% more than on an average month, when about 8% of your new members come on board. However, many of those new members might have said yes sooner -- if you had just asked them. November and December are traditionally tough months for the health club industry. In [...]
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What are the issues facing gym owners in the near future? How is our world changing and what does that mean to boutique fitness gyms and their counterparts – general service fitness centers? Just as the pandemic upended fitness routines, changing demographics and shifts in how individuals perceive health and fitness are driving adaptation and innovation. Let’s look at a few of the concerns facing our industry. Gym truth One: We’re all getting older. One statistic we’ve seen asserts there will be more people over 50 years of age than under 50 by the year 2030. That year, as well, [...]
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By now it's no secret that America is aging. In 2014 there were 113 million adults over 50 and by 2030 there will be 160. At least 50% of discretionary income belongs to the 50 and older market. There's a huge opportunity within this group of individuals who want to "age in place" and knows they'll live a better quality of life if they're healthy. Eight out of ten adults over 50 don't think marketing targets them. Brands and businesses don't "get them." That means there's an even bigger opportunity for you if you get it right. Assess Your Current [...]
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As an owner or operator of a fitness center you're probably going to find in the near future that your clientele will include more members of special populations. By this I mean groups such as seniors and people with fitness and diet related health issues. These are growing segments of the population and there is a market to be found by catering to their needs. Start With Special Population Certified Trainers The reason special populations are distinct categories; separate from your average gym member is that they start from such a delicate level of health. They need to work with [...]
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Seniors Hit the Health Clubs The Baby Boomer generation is the largest demographic in the U.S. population, and as the tail end of the segment becomes eligible for their AARP card, they are also becoming the fastest growing segment of the fitness population. Over the last decade, the number of health club members over the age of 50 has grown exponentially, virtually exploding in comparison with the rest of the membership. One reason for this rush to the gym is quality of life. As Baby Boomers age, they are determined to enjoy a more active lifestyle than their parents before [...]
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